Deborah Gross
Obituary
Deborah Gross
Deborah Lynn Handelman Gross died of cancer March 24 in Santa Cruz, where she had been residing. She was 48.
Born May 31, 1953, in Hollywood, Gross grew up in the Silicon Valley area and graduated from Prospect High School in 1971.
She began her business career as a manager of Ying-Yang waterbeds in San Jose, then took a job as payroll manager for National Semiconductor. The company later transferred her to Westwood, where she worked in sales and customer service before moving to Santa Cruz in 1986. She then joined her husband, Stephen, as a partner in his business, Jantech Window Wizards, a window- and gutter-cleaning service that specialized in residential work.
The business became well-known in the Los Gatos and Monte Sereno areas, where they had numerous clients, many of whom also became their friends.
"When you think of Window Wizards, you always think of Deborah and Steve," recalls Los Gatan Pamela Atwood. "They were not only a team in their private lives, but also in their work lives. She was his right arm, and he was her right arm. They both made one whole person."
Among Gross' other interests were her home, gardening, music, flowers, chocolate and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include husband Stephen Gross of Santa Cruz; stepdaughter and son-in-law Giulene and James Moller of San Jose; mother and stepfather June and Nello Baldisseri of San Mateo; father and stepmother Herbert and Jackie Handelman of Roseville; sister Dena Warth of Bellevue, Wash.; brother Karl Handelman of Stockton; sister Sheila Acker of Scotts Valley; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Memorial services have been held. Donations can be made to the Homeless Garden Project, Box 617, Santa Cruz, 95061.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
